Cardiff Dragons Korfball Club

Final place 6th (out of 16), goals, Jack 3, Joey 3, Josh 2, ringers 4.

report written, will type it up some point soon.

18-3 Amy Shillabeer (4), Dave Thomas (4), Joey Niblett (4), Helen Gubby (2), Jack McNamara (1), Josh Cockburn (1), Lee O’Sullivan (1), Sian Hunt (1), Gareth Thomas, Rachel Knight.

The Dragons first team maintained their position at the top of the table with another assured performance, defeating the University’s reserves 18-3. The Dragons were missing top scorer Remco, but any thoughts that the total might suffer were soon dispelled as Amy broke her scoring duck in spectacular fashion, nailing 4 out of 4 shots in the opening 20 minutes past her amazed defender! With Joey finding plenty of space in the Uni defence at the other end, and Helen and Sian chipping in goals, the Dragons held a confortable half-time lead. Lee came on for Gareth at the start of the second half and landed a longshot with his first touch, before his alert play set up a pair of simple chances for Taff, which brought up his hattrick. Joey and Jack continued to keep the scoreboard ticking over at the other end, with Joey becoming the second player up to 4 goals for the game, all from more or less under the post. Lee went off with an injured ankle, leaving Rachel, Amy and Taff with their third team mate at that end, but Josh slotted in well, completing a nice move with a smartly taken long shot from Rachel and Taff’s assist work. Defensively, the Dragons continued to hold firm, restricting the Uni to just 3 goals, and breaking up many attacks before they got going.

With 8 players on the scoresheet and another sizeable win, the Dragons will be pleased with progress, but the real test is coming up soon, City 1 notching a big win in the day’s earlier match.

0-19 Dave Schofiedl, Gareth Thomas, Hannah James. Josh Cockburn, Julie Saunders, Liz Pearson, Magnus Dons, Natalie Gardner

Not going to dwell on this one too long, but against a fluent, skilful and experienced City 1 side, an inexperienced Dragons team hung on in and showed clear improvements throughout the game. To restrict the opposition to under 20 was a decent achievement, and although not managing to score ourselves was disappointing, we did create some chances. 

22-3 Remco Broekhuis (7), Lee O’Sullivan (5), Joey Niblett (3), Dave Thomas (2), Helen Gubby (2), Rachel Knight (2), Sian Hunt (1), Amy Shillabeer

The first home game of the year was able to take place after Pete and Josh did an intensive sweeping of the court. Jack was absent, but it was also the first time this season that a team made up exclusively of first-team players was put out. This wasn’t obvious early on, as Dragons struggled to find their fluency on a small court and against aggressive intercept defence. Goals only came occasionally, and the inexperienced but athletic uni team posed a threat with their running-in shots which, with better finishing, could have had them very close. As it was, the half finished with Dragons having a 7-2 lead.

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8-4, Gareth Thomas (3), Julia Harnett (2), Dave Schofield (1), Josh Cockburn (1), Magnus Dons (1), Alison Eaves, Chrissy Rowlatt, Hannah Blackmore, Liz Pearson, Pete Obee.

After their narrow defeat to the Cane Toads, this was a vital game for the seconds if they want to finish in the top 4 after the first phase of the season.

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20-5 Remco Broekhus (5), Dave Thomas (3), Helen Gubby (3), Joey Niblett (3), Josh Cockburn (3), Rachel Knight (3), Emily Tuttiett, Hannah Jones, Helena Nelson, Sian Hunt

After a fairly comprehensive win over the students, Dragons 1 took on another of Cardiff City’s reserve sides, the Chiefs, at Talybont on Saturday. The Chiefs fielded some new players, but with several first teamers unavailable, the Dragons were forced into a few changes too. Josh made his season’s first team debut, alongside Emily Tuttiet, with Remco, Taff, Joey, Rachel, Sian and Helen back from last week’s line up.  (more…)

3-5 Gareth Thomas (2), Josh Cockburn (1), Chrissy Rowlatt, Emily Tuttiett, Hannah James, Helena Nelson, Magnus Dons, Pete Obee

A frustrating defeat for Dragons 2 who defended well, but were ultimately undone by a combination of missed chances - particularly from Josh who missed a handful of running-in shots - and being out-collected by a City team who dominated around the post.

18-6 Jack McNamara (4), Lee O’Sullivan (4), Remco Broekhuis (4), Helen Gubby (2), Dave Thomas (1), Joey Niblett (1), Rachel Knight (1), Sian Hunt (1), Alison Eaves, Julia Harnett, Natalie Gardner

The second match of the season for the first team, and a near identical scoreline. However, this game took a very different path to the game as Dragons started hesitantly, lacking in fluency and failing to put away their chances. It was some time before Jack scored from long-range to open the scoring, but the students responded with a goal from collect. Another long-shot from Rachel put Dragons ahead, but again uni responded from close range after Sian missed an interception. Helen then scored a couple of running-in shots, exploiting the inexperience of her marker, but a penalty kept the score tight at 4-3.

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8-13 Alison Eaves (2), Josh Cockburn (2), Julie Saunders (2), Hannah James (1), James Frost (1), Dave Schofield, Helena Nelson, Julia Harnett, Steve Vaughan. (10-0 forfeit)

With the BUSA Southerns looming, the Uni team decided to forfeit the match by choosing to play Jack McNamara (from Dragons) and Jack Newman (from the Cardiff City Chiefs) who are part of the BUSA squad but ineligible for league games. Safe in the knowledge of a 10-0 forfeit victory a friendly was played. Hannah James made her debut, playing the first half before being replaced by another debutante - Helena Nelson.

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19-6 Remco Broekhuis (4), Dave Thomas (3), Joey Niblett (3), Lee O’Sullivan (3), Jack McNamara (2), Rachel Knight (2), Sian Hunt (2), Alison Eaves, Julia Harnett

The Dragons first team made it’s debut in the brand new Welsh League at Howells on Tuesday night, notching an opening 19-6 win against a Cardiff City reserve side who are still deciding on a team name!This years team has a slightly different look to it, with Amy Shillabeer promoted from the second team, Dave Thomas returning from injury and Jack McNamara transferred in from the University. The Dragons also gave league debuts to Alison Eaves and Julia Harnett, while Lee, Sian , Rachel, Joey and Remco remained from last year’s side.

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